"All right, ya fucking machine! I know you can't talk, but I'm going to total
you for what you did to Sodom! Time for the scrap heap! DAMN!" yelled Rolent
as the familiar, yet stunning, light whisked them away.

"Where are we? I don't ever recall seeing this place! So where...shit! Sodom?
What the..."

"My time is brief, comrade. Sektor, as you know, is a cyborg. As such, it
won't `rest.' It's `wound' from our match is still there, but isn't apparent.
Unless you find it, you will share my company. You must go for its he..."
Sodom was instantly snuffed out.

"I don't allow gods to use their full powers, and I shall not allow the `dead'
to assist in the matches."

"You mean that he really was talking to me from the dead--that wasn't
you?"

"By the way, this is where Haggar and his friends had to contend with that
tag-team of Andores from their first clash with the Mad Gear," and as `Black'
disappeared, Sektor fired a homing missile at Rolent!

He attempted to dodge it, but it followed him. He then threw a knife into
it, detonating it. The blast threw him across the ring, and to his back.
He was the shot up from Sektor's warp, and kicked back to the ground. Sektor
then tossed Rolent, but he flipped in mid air, and landed on his feet. Rolent
rolled back to avoid a warp, and leapt forward, slamming his stick into Sektor.
The vibrations shook Rolent almost as much as Sektor.

Rolent leapt in, and hit Sektor with his stick for three fast hits, and then
smacked Sektor with his Patriot Circle three times. He then planted it into
the ground, and a spark flew across the ground, and caught Sektor by the
feet. He then threw it to the ceiling, yanked, and Sektor crashed into the
ceiling. He then fell back to the ground. Upon impact, a portion of the ceiling
then fell on them!

After what felt like an eternity, Rolent dug himself out of the carnage.
He saw Sektor, his arm canon pointed, and ready to fire. He then saw what
Sodom was saying. Sektor had a very deep, though rather small hole, where
his heart would be.

DAMN! I can't believe how lucky this cyborg is...and he remained silent,
even though his body was burned to the bone.

"Winner of Fight 16, Round 2, Sektor! Fatality!"

II

"Fight 17, Round 2: Cammy v Cyrax!"

So, it is true! Bison and I, at a time, were in love! We were to be the rulers
of the world! However, he wanted to go about it with drugs, conquest, and
bloodshed. I'm not sure who was dumber, though. Was Bison dumb, for wanting
to take that path? Maybe I was wrong, thinking that two people could really
rule the world any other way.

It all came to a very ugly, very brutal end, though. I told him that he had
to stop, and that this wasn't the way to do it. He said he was sorry, and
didn't want it to be this way. He then signaled Vega, who was going to kill
me! The man I loved was going to have me killed! I ran; I think it was more
from fear of what had happened as opposed to Vega killing me. I know I can
take him. He had his ugly face pounded in for his match. If we meet,
I'll finish off what Liu Kang began! The question is, what do I do about
Bison?

"I feel your turmoil Cammy. I can only tell you what I had told you before."

"Psylock!? How did you--never mind. From what I've heard, I'll bet it's the
Alpha-Omega! Just don't do like you did to Sonya and be a living skeleton.
That would scare me to death!"

"That's an interesting choice of words. Actually, Ryu, Chun Li, and a few
others had a chance to meet a guy like that--not a bad fellow. Now, here's
Cyrax!"

Cyrax fired a net, and Cammy easily jumped onto a van, and hit Cyrax with
her frankenstiener. After taking a quick look, she recognized it as the "Mutant
Hunting Ground" from her first encounter with the X-men. She was then thrown
by an explosion from Cyrax's bomb, and smashed through the window of a cop
car.

In the blink of an eye, he caught it, and broke it in two! He then teleported,
and threw Cammy into the ground, and blood oozed from her face causing her
to nearly loose consciousness. He picked her up, but was met with a Thrust
Kick, smashing it through the barricade, but not without hurting Cammy's
leg. She felt like she had kicked a tank with all her might...and wondered
if she had unwittingly broken her own leg. As she put her foot down, she
fell on her back, her face tensed from the intense pain. She felt like she
wanted to die.

She then thought back to what she had heard happened in her first match.
Sonya took her giant pinwheel, and swatted her into a giant meat-hook! She
was just thrown through the window of a car, and felt like she had the tank
run over her leg. Her arm felt like it was being ripped off. Her whole world
seemed to be going black.

She saw Crax a short distance from her, and knew she had to do something,
and fast, or she was dead. From a power that seemed to come from beyond,
she shot up like a bat from Hell, and supplied Cyrax into the pavement. She
then did another Frankenstiener on Cyrax.

Exhausted, Cammy collapsed, nearly ready to die by whatever cruel fate the
cyborg had planned for her. It wasn't like she hadn't tried. She had already
been through so much. Her lover wanted to kill her, and then to repossess
her. Ain't going to happen...no man owns a woman, she thought, as the memories
flowed freely now. Dan was right...I can't fight a machine.

Wait! Dan lost to Cyrax, and he still lived. Maybe it will do the same. Maybe,
it will just stand there, I can get a bit of strength and...

"What...is it doing? It looks like...FUCK!" and Cammy rolled as she
realized that Cyrax began his self-destruct sequence. An explosion seemed
to rip throughout all existence, and Cammy was covered as parts of the barricades
fell on her, and she saw the flames rise, as she went black.

"Cammy! Where are you?" cried Chun Li, seeing the destruction around her.

"I think I see her," called Adon, grimly, as he began to move toward a hand.

After a few moments, they pulled Cammy out, bruised, bloody, and just barely
breathing. They then saw Cyrax's head, and other parts, scattered about the
ground.

"I did it," Cammy whispered.

Surprised, they both nearly dropped her. However, to their amazement, Cammy
didn't collapse. She slowly, but painfully walked forward. She looked back
at them, and looked at the remains of Cyrax. She put her foot on the destroyed
head of Cyrax, and said softly "Next!"

"Winner of Fight 17, Round 2, Cammy! Suicide!"

III

"Fight 18, Round 2: Necro v Guile!"

So, for this round, I'll be fighting a Street Fighter, not that that makes
any difference to me. I don't want to underestimate this--guy--but I'm going
to kick his butt, and I'll see them for round 3! He must be fairly good,
to beat that, whatever it is Quan Chi is.

So, at last, we have learned the truth of what really happened to Charlie,
and to Chun Li, regarding their Shadows. Charlie was "clinically dead," but
wasn't actually dead. I hate it when it gets this confusing. As far as I'm
concerned, he's either dead or alive. A coma, maybe...I'm giving myself a
headache just trying to figure this crap out!

Chun Li's is simpler, I think. She never died, and so the junk they did with
Charlie had...different results. After this match, I wish I could go to a
bar. That way, at least I could get drunk for a bit.

Fate is finally starting to show me kindness. After all the shit Gill, and
others have done to me, including this, I may be able to have my wish granted!
I'm the only one from amongst the New Generation to reach the second round.
My foe is the legendary Guile. I will have to work my ass off just to survive
against him. I will win! Then, Gill, I'm going to fry your ass!

"Woah! What's with this funky village? It's dark as night here! I recognize
it. This is Ibuki's haunts from our first tournament...cool."

"Precisily," replied a tall, thin man with glasses.

"You are Ibuki's...but how did you..?"

"Easy Necro! That's the Big Cheese, not the guy you were thinking."

"Oh--let's do this!" and Guile was taken off his feet as Necro's arms stretched
to grab him, and toss him over his head, and into a tree.

Guile groaned as he rubbed his face from being thrown into the tree. So,
this guy seems to fight exactly like Dhalsim. Ok, I've fought Dhalsim,
so this guy won't be a problem. Necro leapt up, and drilled into Guile. As
expected, Guile bent down, and dropped Necro with his Flash Kick. Guile shot
a slow Sonic Boom, and jumped in on Necro. Necro blocked the Boom, and Guile's
kick. Necro then felt like his head was slammed into his butt as Guile supplied
him. Back on his feet, Necro was met by a hard fist to his gut, a Sonic Boom,
another fist into his face, and his head seemed to snap off from a Flash
Kick.

Necro was dazed, and his vision was blurry. He then saw a pattern seem to
move toward him. It had to be Guile, and he took a wild-shot to catch Guile.
It worked, and Guile was in Necro's Super Dunk. Guile was slammed a few times
into the ground. This time, he was the one to be dazed. He stood up, and
Necro unleashed his Electric Storm into Guile's body, sending Guile flying
like a cannonball.

"One more shock, and I'd say it's all over, Guile!"

"Only in your dreams, punk!" and in a flash, Guile repeatedly pounded Necro,
battering him down, and turning his chances to win around. A second to think,
and the same Flash Kick he had used to bring his house down, leveled Necro.

"Winner of Fight 18, Round 2, Guile!"

"Well done, Guile. That was one Helluva Kick. You did very well, my friend,"
and Guile shook Charlie's hand, glad to be reunited with his best friend.

IV

"Fight 19, Round 2: Ryu v Marvel Ken!"

So, it is now time for one of the fights that are the things that legends
are made of. I will be fighting Ken's dark-side, while he fights mine. I
find it rather--odd, but I will do it! I know I can. Then, I will confront
my own demon, Evil Ryu!

"Hey, dweeb! It's good to see that you are actually going to show. It's dumb,
but then again, you've always been that way, haven't you, Ryu? It's been
that way ever since we first began training together, hasn't it? We know
I'm the better man, and that you have to constantly work your rudy-pooh ass
off just to keep up. Face it, boy, you will always be second best
to me; nothing more!"

Ryu was beside himself. How could this--thing--say all these things about
him, and Ken. It almost made him want to rip it apart. Then, he wondered:
this is Ken's dark-side...is this how Ken really feels about him, on some
level? How would his dark side think of Ken?

"Don't go off to nightmare land yet, loser! Which brings me to your losing
streak (you don't deserve a winning streak). Outside of myself, go figure,
I don't know of anyone with so small a streak. Now why in the world is that,
Ryu? Come on, you don't really need me to answer all this for you? Ok, it's
because you are a coward! You fight one fight with the guy, win, and move
on. You don't look like much of a threat, and for those that don't know you,
they underestimate you, and you kick their butt! It happened that time you
fought Fei Long. Why has there never been a rematch? Simple; you didn't want
to fight again, because you knew that he would learn about your weaknesses,
and probably hand you your head. I know how you fight, Ryu. I will kill you!
Pleasant death!"

In a flash, they were in the temple in Dhalsim's village. It was the same
temple that he and Ken had went in to bring the treasure to robbers, and
nearly killed each other in.

Before he could respond, Ken caught him in a fury with his Hurricane Kick.
Ken almost landed, but began another one, and shot Ryu into the air, and
kicked him back to the ground. He landed, and Ryu shot out with his fist
for his Shin-Shoryu-Ken. However, Ken blocked each of the hits, barely shaken.
Ryu landed, and realized that he was in trouble, as he was hit by Ken'
Sho-Ryu-Reppa! Then, before finishing it, Ken stopped for a breath, and Ryu
was singed by a Shin-Ryu-Ken!

Ryu looked out, and felt his skin scream in pain from the fire. He looked
like the time he had fought Guile during his first visit to the U.S. This
might even be worse. He got up, only to have Ken grab him, and bash his knee
into him. As he kicked Ryu away, Ryu coughed up blood as he hit the ground.

"You see? I told you! I know how you fight. You have done nothing to even
attempt to fight back. It's not that you haven't tried, it's simply that
I am what I said, and that is your better. No matter what you do, I will
come out on top! Are you ready to...heh! You can still stand. So, what will
it be, boy?"

Ryu fired a Shinku-Hadoken at Ken. Ken easily did a Sho-Ryu-Reppa through
it, but was surprised as Ryu was able to block his attack. As he landed,
he was sucked in by Ryu's Shinku-Tatsu-Maki-Senpu-Kyaku! Ken had his stuffings
knocked out, and was shot into the statue. Ryu hit him a few times, and then
launched Ken into the air. He then hit Ken a few more times, and then fired
a long beam into, Ken, and drove him all the way across the temple. Ryu landed,
and was barely able to stand. Ken didn't move, and Ryu realized he was
successful.

"Ryu! You did it!" yelled Sakura as she ran to him, and leapt into his arms,
and they fell over.

Sakura felt bad, after realizing how careless she was, but Ryu smiled, and
hugged her.

"Winner of Fight 19, Round 2, Ryu!"

V

"Fight 20, Round 2: Evil Ryu v Ken!"

This is definitely wild. I just come back from having a nice, uninterrupted
talk with Eliza, only to find out it's time for my match with the one guy
who could possibly kill me--Evil Ryu! He knows everything Ryu knows, and
then some. He also has the Raging Demon, something I have to avoid at
all costs. If it hits, I'm dead. That'll bite! I still can't believe
that Ryu, or myself, for that matter, have such evil within. Now that I think
about it, I can't even fathom as to how it effects Sakura.

I think it's a little odd about this round. Guile and I each had a small
reunion with our wives before this round. We both fight at almost the same
time, as does Ryu. I wonder what sort of trash my dark-side is going to give
Ryu. I wonder what sort of trash his will...

"Hey, girlie-boy. Get your head out of your ass! It's time for the fight,
something that you will never understand. You know about the fight, but you
will never understand it. You think that it's all for you, and that you are
the best. When Hell freezes! You may have had the talent, but it hasn't gotten
any better. It has actually deteriorated. That would be the only reason for
you to have your feeble mind controlled by Bison."

"Don't try it, jerk! Ryu was controlled by Bison, and it was just as hard
for him as it was for me."

Ryu laughed, before replying, "So, you choose to think of Ryu and myself
as two different souls. This shows just how pitiful you are. I am who he
will become, just as Marvel Ken is who you will become. Deny it all you want,
we are one in the same. As for being controlled by Bison, that just shows
how lame you are. I was still but a boy when Bison took control of me. You,
however, are an adult. He took you, and drove you to what you really are,
and what you will become. You will abandon them, and you will be on the path
to your true fate!"

"You bastards leave Eliza and Mel alone!"

Ken fired a Hadouken at Ryu, only for Ryu to warp past it, and fry him with
his own. Ken was then thrown over Ryu, and with much difficulty, Ken landed
on his feet, and noticed that he was in the same temple from Dhalsim's village.
Ryu caught his attention, as Ken was knocked to his face with a Hurricane
Kick. Ken tried to Dragon Punch Ryu, but hit air as Ryu warped away. Ryu
laughed, right before he hit Ken with a Sho-Ryu-Reppa.

Ryu picked up Ken, and threw his head back, ready to smash Ken's. Ken had
other plans, and kneed Ryu in the nuts, and keeled him over. Ken then used
his Shin-Ryu-Ken on Ryu, returning the favor. Ken got a rude surprise as
Ryu was able to summon a Shinku-Hadouken, and hit so deep into Ken's gut,
that he puked up blood. Now, each was flat, and trying to do what he could
to advance into the next round.

After an eternity seemed to pass them by, they made their way to their feet,
each having trouble standing, although Ken was still suffering from a large
loss of blood. He barely blinked, and Ryu was in front of him. A evil smile
flashed over his face, and Ken was ensnared in a Shinku-Tatsu-Maki-Senpu-Kyaku!
Ryu picked Ken up, and threw him over his shoulder, and into the floor. Ryu's
eyes glowed a bright red, and the familiar, evil aura surrounded him. Finally
there was a spark, and he glided toward Ken, the Raging Demon in motion.

"Screw ya! Shippi-Jinrai-Kyaku!" yelled Ken, as he began spinning and kicked
Ryu out of the Demon. As he finished, they shot into the air, and just as
the last hit connected, Ryu was set ablaze.

"Sensi! You did it, you've won!"

"Sean, Ryu, Sakura? What's next?"

"Winner of Fight 20, Round 2, Ken!"

VI

"Fight 21, Round 2: Cody v Kabal!"

HERE COMES A NEW CHALLENGER!!

"What? Cody? Here?" asked, Guy, stunned. He was even more stunned to see
Cody in a jail suit, with cuffs!

"Who did this? Whatever you want, know that not even the mighty Shao Khan
could kill me, so whatever you try to hit me with, I will have my revenge.
So swears Kabal!"

"Kabal--a member of Kano's clan? I thought he was dead..."

"...Obviously not, Stryker," Nightwolf said, never taking his eyes off the
two new fighters.

A cyborg of sorts appeared, and they were informed in mere seconds what would
have taken the others forever to try and explain. They turned to their opponent,
and began.

Kabal blazed toward Cody, who just barely was able to block him, stunning
Kabal. Cody then tossed Kabal over his shoulders. As Kabal got up, Cody lifted
a rock, and hurled it, smashing into Kabal's heavy mask. For a moment, he
was dazed, which is all Cody needed. In a blink, he summoned what seemed
to be a small tornado. He then seemed to glow, and Kabal was shaken by a
huge hurricane!

"Let us see what you think of this, thug," and Kabal removed his mask, and
Cody had to turn away in disgust, feeling queasy.

Kabal ran in, and Cody was dazed. Kabal then summoned a huge blade, which
came tearing out of nowhere, and ripped into Cody. He then proceeded to smack
Cody with a few hits from his hooks, launched him, hit him with a last hit,
and blasted him with a fireball.

Fueled by rage, Cody powered up, and pounded his fists into Kabal. He then
kneed him a few times. Cody paused, and tossed Kabal into a tree, knocking
the hooks out of Kabal's hands. Kabal attempted to hit Cody with a fireball,
but Cody sailed over it, and knocked Kabal back down from a Windmill Kick.
Cody lifted Kabal to his feet, and repeated the combo. Just as he was about
to throw Kabal, he broke out of it.

Kabal dazed Cody, and repeated his kombo, and blasted Cody into a tree. Everybody
was silent as the dead, wondering if Kabal would kill Cody, or what.

Guy, followed by Rose, ran up to Cody. Before anything could be said, a dark
explosion seemed to rip through their very fiber, and they heard voices yell
as if being killed.

For a second, Ryu and Evil Ryu stood, face to face. Then, Evil Ryu faded,
and Ryu fell to his knees, shook violently, and his eyes became red with
blood! Power encircled both Kens, and they seemed to be thrown toward each
other, until they merged as one! Shin Akuma was now accompanied by his twin.
Sakura fell into Sean's arms, and felt like nearly all of her life was drained
as XSakura's mad laughter echoed throughout. The Dark Power has awaken!

As promised, it has finally happened! The souls have merged. How can
they be brought back? Can they be brought back? Is it all up to Sakura? How
much help will Shen Long and Goutetsu be?

Just what sort of power does Cammy have? She is smashed into a hook, has
her face smashed through a window, and is covered by debris from an explosion
as Cyrax self-destructed! You remember her specials from XSF and how they
were like Bison's punches..?